Viability vs. Sustainability — What's the Difference?

Practicality in terms of implementation.

Ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.

Ability to exist or survive.

Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources.

Capable of working successfully.

Long-term ecological balance.

Financial sustainability to cover costs.

Practices that support long-term ecological and human health.

Feasibility of an idea or project.

Economic operations that do not harm the environment.

Capable of success or continuing effectiveness; practicable

Sustainability is the capacity to endure in a relatively ongoing way across various domains of life. In the 21st century, it refers generally to the capacity for Earth's biosphere and human civilization to co-exist.

Capable of living, developing, or germinating under favorable conditions

Capable of being sustained.

Capable of living outside the uterus. Used of a fetus or newborn.

Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment

The property of being viable; the ability to live or to succeed

The ability to sustain something.

The quality or state of being viable.

(ecology) A means of configuring civilization and human activity so that society, its members and its economies are able to meet their needs and express their greatest potential in the present, while preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems, planning and acting for the ability to maintain these necessary resources for future generations.

The capacity of living after birth.

(business) The ability to sustain a business in the long term, which is a state that is partly dependent on, but broader than, profitability today or in the short term; it involves aspects of a plausible path toward eventual profitability (as applies to a startup) and ecologic sustainability (for example, the long-term dependence of the timber/lumber industry on forest preservation and renewal, or of fisheries on viable fish stocks).

The capacity of living, or being distributed, over wide geographical limits; as, the viability of a species.

(civics) The ability to sustain a civic practice or process in the long term, such as democracy, entrepreneurialism, a war effort, or others.

(of living things) capable of normal growth and development

The property of being sustainable

Capable of become practical and useful

In business, viability ensures short-term success, while sustainability focuses on long-term profitability and ethical operation.

Strategies include reducing waste, using renewable resources, and implementing recycling programs.

Companies measure sustainability through metrics like carbon footprint, resource efficiency, and social impact.

Government policies can promote sustainability through regulations that protect natural resources and ensure fair social practices.

Sustainability considerations in design can lead to products that are more efficient, recyclable, and environmentally friendly.

Viability is about the immediate ability to function or succeed, whereas sustainability focuses on long-term maintenance and responsibility.

Yes, a project can initially succeed yet fail to be sustainable if it leads to resource depletion or environmental damage.

Economic sustainability involves practices that ensure long-term profitability without compromising environmental and social health.

Using fossil fuels for energy is viable due to current technology but unsustainable due to environmental impact.

Sustainability is crucial for preserving ecosystems and ensuring that natural resources are available for future generations.